Car construction



Sept. 4, 1928.

H. W. PROTZELLER CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I g Wa e/[er A 1 Infant Sept. 4, 1928.

H. W. PROTZELLER CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l TufenT IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII v ,a m (as. Via a! 7 H u "a m d 0 f n i M.

- matters hereinafter described and more Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY w. PROTZELLER, or EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, AssIeNoR 'r0 0. 1'. JORDAN CourANY, or EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION or INDIANA.

C R CONSTRUCTION.

Applioationfiled February 23, 1927. SerlaLNo. 170,296.

I I I I o ThlS invention relates to improvements culiar characteristics in car constructions and it consists of the articularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The

- especially adapted as the vehicle of a self propelled rail joint oiler, and which includes, a tank arrangement at each side of the car with a center aisle or passage between them in which is arranged the driving engine and associated parts. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved running frame which includes certain brackets upon which the tanks are mounted so as to project beyond the sides of the frame, the brackets so engaging the frame asto resist any twisting thereof'under actual conditions of use.

These objects of the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a red joint oiler in which isembodied my improved car construction.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the same on an enlarged scale, as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view as taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and shows the vehicle frame in plan elevation.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through one of the tanks or casings embodied in my improved car construction, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 4 4; of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one corner of the frame of the car and which will be more fully referred to later.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view through that corner of the frame shown in Fig. 5. I

My invention is herein shown and will be described as embodied in a Vehicle adapted to'be self propelled along a railroad track for spraying oil on the joints in the rails but this is to be taken as by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation because the same may be embodied in railroad -vehicles for other purposes where its peprimary object of the invention is -to provlde a strong and rigid construction which includes side sills 2-2 and front and rear transverse, end sills 8 and 4 respectively. Each side sill is in the form of a pa1r of edgewise disposed parallel but spaced inner and outer channel irons 55 with the top and bottom flanges thereof facing inwardly toward each other. In each end of the side sills between the channel irons thereof is a snugly fitting filler or spacer block 6 which includes top and bottom walls 6 6 side walls 6"6", and intermediate wall 6 and end wall 6. Said filler block is secured to said channel irons near-its closed end by rivets 6 which pass through the webs of the channel irons and through said block and also by other means nel iron with the flanges thereof facing outwardly, said. members being attached to the ends of the side sills by rivets 6 which pass through the webs thereof and through the end wall of the filler blocks in the ends of said side sills as best shown in Fig. 6. As sociated with the rear ends of the side sills are depending brackets 8 which support a step or foot board 9. Fixed to and depending from each outer channel iron 5-5 at points spaced from each end thereof are bearing brackets 1010 arranged in transverse front and rear pairs and in the front pair is journalled an axle I1 and in the rear pair is journalled a second axle 12. Suitably secured on the ends of said axles are front and rear wheels 13 and 14 respectively, adapted for travel upon the rails 15 OI a railroad track. On the rear axle 12 is provided a suitable sprocket 16 by means of which power may be transmitted to said axle for driving the car as a whole. Also on both axles, suitable braking means 17', indicated only generally in Figs. 2 and 3, are provided for stopping the car.

Associated with each side sill 2 are front, rear and intermediate brackets 18 l9 and .20 respectively and as said brackets are all and inner and outer side members 21 and 21 respectively. Made in continuation of the top member 21 is aflat .top. arm or plate member 21 which terminates at its outer end in an upturned flange 21"braced by a reinforcin web 21 from the outer side member 21. n the inner side member 21, 'ust below the plane of the top member 21 1s a short inwardly extending flange 21 and upstanding from said member 21" substantially midwa between the side member 21 and 21 is a ange 21. As before stated the open frame or body ofeach bracket member snugly surrounds each side sill. Said brackets are suitabl secured in, place by bolts or rivets 22 .w ich in the, case of the end brackets/also extend through the associated filler blocks 6 as best shown in Fig. 6. On the top side of the. member 21' and its extension arm 21', between the flanges 21 and 21 is mounted a suitable cushioning member 23 secured in place in any well known manner. v

The vehicle thus far described is driven by an engine 24 arran d near the front end thereof and the fly w eel casing thereof is provided with lateral flange extensions en- 'gaged upon and bolted tothe inwardly extending flanges or bosses 21 of the intermediate brackets 19. The front end of said engine rests upon and is bolted to a cross bar 25 which in turn is suitably secured at its ends to the bottom flanges of each pair of channel irons 5-5. The engine is preferably of the internal combustion type, and is provided at its rear end with a change speed transmission gear 26 operatively connected to the driving member 16 on the rear axle 12 in any suitable manner, said connection being omitted from the drawing for sake of clearnessr Associated with said engine is a radiator 27 which rests upon and is secured to the flan'ges or bosses 21 of the front brackets 18 as best shown in Fig. 3.

Mounted on the brackets 18, 19 and 20 at each side of the frame just described is an elongated rectangular casing 28 of a width to fit between the flanges .21 and 21, said casing resting upon the cushioning members transverse walls 28 and 28 spacedinwardly from the ends of the casing, which walls thus define compartments 2929 respectively at each end of the casing, access to which may be had by hin'ged doors 30-30 at the extreme ends of the casing. Spaced rearwardly from the wall 28 a suitable distance is a third transverse wall 28 which defines with said wall 28 a compartment 31.

Suitably ar open frame like body secured in said compartment and pro'ecting up through and above the top of sai casing is a cylinder 32 capable of holding a fiui under pressure when so, desired.

The transversewall 28 together with the rear transverse walls 28 defines a tank 33,

also capable of holding a fluid under pressure, a baflle wall 28 being arranged in said tank to brace the same'but in no manner interfering with the equalization of pressure between the two end parts of the tank. Suit- I I able filling and draining apertures are provided for the cylinder 32 and tank 33.

When-the construction thus far described 4 is employed as not only a rail joint oiler but also as a general purpose maintenance car,

the tanks 33 will contain the oil 'to be sprayed upon the rails, the cylinders 32 will contain paint or whitewash and the com- '85 partments 29-29 will contain the'necessary hose reels and tools .and the like used maintenance work.

In connection with such a' car construction, I may provide a transversely arched or curved canopy 34 covering the entire car so as not only to rotect the operators against weather conditions but also the various working parts of the car. Said cano y is su ported upon the top ends of uprig t .mem' ers 35-35 fixed to the end corners of the casing 28 as best shown in Fig. 1. To add to the rigid su port of the canopy I provide on the top 0 the casing 28 between its ends, a flange plate 36and extendin up.-

wardly therefrom is a post 37. Inc ined struts 38-38 lead off from said flange plate to the top ends of the upright members 35-35 on the same sideof the car, to provide a strong and rigid construction for the canopy.

Mounted on the outer channel iron of each side sill, approximately between the supporting wheels and axles is an electro-magand when in its inoperative position, to extend rearwardly from the valve in ahorizontal plane. To the rear of each valve is a rearwardly operable transverse rock shaft 42 having a sprocket 43 thereon to which is fixed one end of a chain 44, the other end of which is secured-to the noz'zle head. When I the shaft 42 is rocked in one-direct th 23 before mentioned. Each casing has Ion e noz zl e head is swung into its inoperative position and when said shaft is rocked in the other direction the nozzle head is swung into cally energized and de-energized to open and close the same by an automatic make and break contactor 46 arranged forwardly of the valve; This eontaetor includes a supner of the head of the rail and associated therewith is suitable means to engage the inner fish plate of a rail joint as the vehicle moves along the rails. When such a fish plate is engaged, the contactor closes the circuit to the valve 40 which opens to permit a flow of oil under pressure to the nozzle head, to be sprayed upon the plates of the joint. So soon as the contaetor passes the joint the circuit to the valve is broken and it closes off the supply of oil tothe nozzle head. The eontactor supporting arm is so connected to the shaft 42 that when the nozzle is in its operative position, the contactor is also in its operative position and when the nozzle is in its inoperative position the contactor is also in its-inoperative position, wherein it assumes a substantially horizontal position up under and transversely of the associated side sills.

When the ear is in use, it is apparent that the casings 28 will each contain a great weight and that this weight is offset outwardlywith respect to the vertical median plane of the associated side sill. Ordinarily such weight would tend to spring or twist said side sill but with my improved construction as before described, no such springing and twisting can occur due to the duplex arrangement of the channel irons of each sill and also to the filler blocks and brackets with the open frames surrounding said side sills. The arrangement of the casing provides an aisle between the casings for the best arrangement of the operative parts of the car as well as a most convenient place for the operators.

My improved car construction is indeed strong and rigid so that it amply withstands the heavy service strains imposed upon it in use. It embodies as its greater part, structural members readily purchased in the open market and eliminates the necessity of any great amount of special machine wor in the manufacture thereof. I

WVhile in describing my invention I have referred to the arrangement and form of the various parts of my improved construction in detail, the same is to be taken as by way of illustration only so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A car embodying therein, a frame including side sills, each comprising at least a pair of spaced parallel sill members, a filler block fixed'between and to the ends of each pair of sill members, and end sills fixed'at their ends to the ends of said filler blocks. 1 2. A car embodying therein aframe'in eluding side sills, each comprising at least a pair of spaced, parallel sill members, a

filler block fixed between and to the ends of each pair of sill members, end sills fixed at their ends to said side sills, a plurality of easing supporting brackets embracing said pairs of sill members and extending laterally therefrom and means for securing said brackets to said side sills.

3. A car embodying therein a frame including side sillsi each comprising at least a pair of space parallel sill members, a filler block fixed between and to the ends of each pair of sill members, end sills fixed at their ends to the ends of said filler blocks, a plurality of easing supporting brackets embracing said pairs ,of sill members and extending laterallyv therefrom and means for securing said brackets to said side sills and filler blocks respectively.

4. A car embodying therein a frame including side sills each comprising a pair of channel irons with their flanges facing toward each other, a filler block disposed between the ends of each pair of channel irons,

and fixed thereto, end sills connecting the ends of each side sill and fixed to said filler blocks, brackets surrounding the channel irons of each side sill and including a portion projecting laterally therefrom and means passing through portions 50f "said brackets, channel irons and filler block to connect themtogether.

5. A car embodying therein a frame including side sills each comprising spaced parallel members, end sill members fixed to the ends of said side sills, brackets including portions surrounding said spaced parallel members, and other portions projecting laterally therefrom, and a casing engaged on said brackets and offset from said side sills,

' said brackets having upright flanges thereon engaging the sides of the casing.

6. A car embodying therein a frame including side sills each comprising spaced parallel members, end sill members fixed to the ends of said side sills, brackets ineluding portions surrounding said spaced parallel members and other portions projecting laterally therefrom, a casing including a plurality of compartments engaged on said brackets and projecting laterally from said side sills, and cushioning members interposed 'between said bracket members and the bottom of said casing, said bracket having flanges engaging the sides of said casing.

7. A car embodying therein, a frame including side sills and end sills, longitudinally spaced brackets fixed to said side sills and including. flat top portions with lateral- 'ly spaced upright flanges thereon, a casingengaged upon ,the fiat 'top ortions of the bracketsassociated with" eaei'side sill, said casing including two end compartments each having a door, andan intermediate pressure spaced upright flan es thereon, a casin 6111- t e- I brackets associated with each side sill, be-

' 8; A car embodying therein a frame ineluding side sills a'ndend sills, longitudinal- 10 ly spaced brackets; fixedj to said side sills andincluding flat top portions with laterally gaged upon ,the at top portions 0 tween the flanges thereon, said casing including two end compartments each having a door, a pressure fluid tank nearonecompartment and a thirdfcompartment "nearthe' other end compartment, said third compartment being adapted to receive another pres-1 surefiuid container.

9. A car embodying therein a wheeled frame including side sills'and endsills, longitudinally spaced brackets fixed to said side sills and including flat top portions, a rectangular casing disposed upon the flat top portions of the brackets on each side sill. a plate on said casing between its ends, upright members fixed to the end corners of said ca'sing and to said casing plates, a canopy supported upon said upright members, and brace ars connecting said casing plates and the.

the'end corners of sai casing; v

10..-A car embodying therein, a frame including sidesills each comprising a pair of spaced sill members, supporting wheels and axles operativel connected to saidside sills, a plurality o'f rackets having open frame portions surroundin ortions of'each side sill member and eaclili extending arm at its top and also an inwardly extending flan 'e,a casing disposed on the bracket arms 0 each side sill member, an engine for driving one of said axles, aiduengine being fixed at one end to the inrd-l y extending flanges of a pair of said brackets, one on each side sill member and atransverse member fixed to said side sills and upon which the other end of said engine .is engaged.

11., A bracket for the purpose-specified HARRY W. PROTZELLER.

top ends of said upri ht members fixed to aving an outwardly 

